Draft:Countrey Classic

Countrey Classic (stylized as countrey,CLASSIC.) is the upcoming debut extended play by South African singer and songwriter Bayley Garden. It is scheduled to be self-released on January 30, 2026. Garden wrote all the tracks. Production was mainly handled by Melanie Styles, Bayley Garden, Daphne Vogue, and Jukai Bee.

Countrey Classic
EP by
Bayley Garden
ReleasedJanuary 30, 2026
Recorded2025–2026
StudioEast London (Haven Hills, Highway Gardens, Willow Park, Quigney, Amalinda and Southernwood)
GenreContemporary R&B
LabelSelf-released
Producer
  • Melanie Styles (exec.)
  • Bayley Garden (also exec.)
  • Daphne Vogue
  • Jukai Bee
Singles from Countrey Classic
  1. "Dark Purple"
    Released: June 27, 2025
  2. "Cry Out Loud"
    Released: August 29, 2025
  3. "Flaws And All"
    Released: October 31, 2025

Background and recording

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Okuhle Lundon Garden was born on April 2, 2006, in East London to Amber a journalist, and Lawrence a family therapist. An only child, he grew up in neighboring Quigney. Garden was born half-deaf in his right ear. Garden is half-Jamaican and identifies as Jamaican South African. His paternal grandparents and great-grand parents emigrated from Jamaica and his family follows Jamaican traditions and cuisine. His mother has South African ancestry. He grew up listening to his grandmother's favorite indie pop music, such as the band Allo Darlin', HAIM, Daughter (band), and Half Man Half Biscuit.

Garden named Lauryn Hill, Rihanna and H.E.R. as his female idols and primary musical inspirations and dubbed himself H.E.R.'s biggest fan "in the whole wide world". Garden stated that when he was falling down Back of My Mind (H.E.R. album) came to the rescue and pulled him up. He also named the album "one of the best contemporary R&B albums of today"

Music and lyrics

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Musically, Countrey Classic is a Contemporary R&B record that includes neo soul and progressive soul influences. The EP contains elements of soul, funk, jazz, chillwave, trap, and hip hop soul. Lyrically, Countrey Classic explores themes of unrequited love, heartache, masculism, and classism.

Track listing

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Countrey Classic track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Countrey 101"
  • Bayley Garden
  
2."Old Classic Jamz"
  • Garden
Jukai Bee 
3."Dark Purple"
  • Garden
  • Melanie Styles
  • Bee
  • Daphne Vogue
  
4."Flaws And All"
  • Garden
  
5."Cry Out Loud"
  • Garden
  • Styles
Vogue 
6."Default"
  • Garden
  • Styles
Bee 
7."Pink Paradise (featuring Kyle Brown)"
  • Garden
  • Kyle Brown
  • Vogue
  

References

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1. Bayley Garden, Melanie Styles, Daphne Vogue, Jukai Bee Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South Africa

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